(iU JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



liicciis, the strongest and most durable of the broadleaf trees for rail- 

 way ties, there are three species of beech, commonly called birch, 

 Nothofagus fusca, salandri, menziesii, which are found in the higher 

 elevations, used principally for fencing and mine timbers. 



The output of timber for 1913 is given as 358 million "superficial" 

 feet (10 such feet being equal to i cubic foot) and imports in addition 

 33.5 million superficial feet, eucalypts from Australia and coniferous 

 material from the United States, Canada, and even from the Baltic. 



The realization that the native timber, with the present and naturally 

 increasing demand, would probably be exhausted by 1945 has led to 

 consideration of conservative forest policies and in 1896 to an ordi- 

 nance inaugurating a system of State nurseries and plantations. By 

 1909, however, not more than 12,715 (by 1915, 68,500) acres had been 

 planted, and the planting had been mostly of exotic species. A royal 

 commission reported in that year on the situation, and in 1913 another 

 commission was appointed, which reported at length. This report is 

 in some respects a curiosity. The commissioners propose the estab- 

 lishment of climatic reserves and scenic reserves, but do not seem to 

 have any confidence in supply reserves, excepting in the beech woods, 

 "the only indigenous woods which regenerate themselves rapidly 

 enough to warrant their permanent retention." 



For the rest, reliance is placed on plantations and that mainly, if not 

 entirely, with exotics, poplars, Pinus insignis, radiata, laricio, Douglas 

 fir, and eucalypts. The main business to be provided for seems to be 

 the butter industry, for which odorless packing cases are needed and 

 for which the so-called white pine, occurring pure in swamps, furnishes 

 best material, but in the plantations substitutes are to be secured. This 

 policy of foreign importations is based on the — probably erroneous — 

 idea that the native species are too slow growing. A large number of 

 exotics have already been tested and found wanting. 



The discussion of the financial aspects of such planting policy are 

 also a curiosity and somewhat jumbled. It is expected that these plan- 

 tations "when matured" — age not stated, but apparently 50 years — will 

 average 50,000 superficial feet (100 cubic feet per acre per year), and 

 for Monterey pine, fir for butter boxes, 150,000 superficial feet in 35 

 years ! — over 400 cubic feet per acre per year ! To meet the demand 

 after the 35 years, 700,000 acres must be on hand, and spreading the 

 planting over 50 years, 14,000 acres must be planted yearly. Such 

 planting of Monterey pine on land worth $50 (!) is to cost $40 per 

 acre ; annual maintenance. $1.50; interest rate, 4.5 per cent ; yield at 35 

 years, 150,000 superficial feet, worth $750, equal to 54 per cent on the 

 outlay. 



